News archive: Rockets & Scramjets | Airframer

The compact nozzle design exceeded expectations during testing and will be integrated into Venus's rotating detonation rocket engine for a demonstration.

13 February

A rendering of the Hellhound unmanned aircraft system, designed by Cummings Aerospace.

Cummings Aerospace and ATRX plan hypersonic UAS

The companies will integrate a high-speed turbo-rocket onto a flight-proven airframe, advancing supersonic and hypersonic drone capabilities for military applications.

12 February

ReleaseSierra Space completes test campaign on next generation Vortex 35,000 lbf fuel-rich LOX LH2 engine

22 January

ReleaseAmerica's Frontier Fund backs breakthrough hypersonic engine company Venus Aerospace

9 January

ReleaseAerolloy Technologies wins development and supply order from Blue Origin for large superalloy investment castings for New Glenn's BE-4 engines

18 December

ReleaseVenus Aerospace achieves first ignition of VDR2 engine

3 October

Venus unveils groundbreaking detonation ramjet engine

The VDR2 combines the high thrust and efficiency of the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) with the high efficiency cruise of a Ramjet, and will take flight in Venus' hypersonic flight test drone in 2025.

25 July

ReleaseNew R&D center in Ohio to accelerate vital national security propulsion technology

12 July

ReleaseUK MoD HTCDF contract announcement July 2024

23 June

ReleaseISRO completes its RLV technology demonstrations through LEX trio

6 May

ReleaseRocket Lab completes Archimedes engine build, begins engine test campaign

28 March

The test successfully demonstrated flight controls, stability, one leg of the ultimate Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) propulsion system, telemetry, ground operations, and air launch.

Venus makes first flight of supersonic drone contender

The eight foot, 300lb drone was dropped at 12,000 ft and accelerated to Mach 0.9, flying for 10 miles. It was powered by a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine at 80% thrust in order to not exceed Mach 1.

9 March

ReleaseUrsa Major Hadley engine flies for the first time

7 March

ReleaseVenus Aerospace achieves the first long-duration engine test of their RDRE in partnership with DARPA.

2 February

ReleaseTexas-based Venus Aerospace is working with rotating-detonation propulsion technology to turn the "Stargazer" from sci-concept to Mach-9 business jet that flies at 6,900 mph

8 January

ReleaseDoD's National Security Innovation Capital awards $1.5M to New Frontier Aerospace to expand hypersonic engine development

3 November

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) mobile test stand.

Venus reports progress on hypersonic engine testing

Venus Aerospace is the first company to demonstrate one particular room-temperature storable propellant combination, which it hopes will allow hypersonic flights to go further, faster and more often.

31 August

ReleaseVelontra contracts with Venus Aerospace to deliver a propulsion system enabling airflights around the globe in one hour

4 August

The Airframer Bulletin

ReleaseUrsa Major opens new Longmont manufacturing facility

ReleaseVenus Aerospace raises $91M to mature the world's first flight-proven high-thrust RDRE into full propulsion systems

ReleaseSuccessful Mach 5 combustion experiment of hypersonic experimental aircraft

ReleaseUrsa Major achieves 10 successful Hadley engine flights, demonstrating reusable hypersonic capability

ReleaseUrsa Major rapidly advances its Hadley H13 engine

ReleaseIAN Alpha Fund invests ₹25 Crore in D-Propulse Aerospace

ReleaseUrsa Major raises $100 million to scale hypersonics, solid rocket motors and space mobility

ReleaseQIC Ventures joins global defence investors to raise A$46 million for Queensland aerospace startup Hypersonix

ReleaseNRFC makes first defence sector investment of $10 million to help aerospace startup Hypersonix Launch Systems develop its next generation scramjet engines

ReleaseVenus Aerospace announces strategic investment by Lockheed Martin to accelerate breakthrough innovations in next-generation propulsion

ReleaseTitans Space to revolutionize US military space capabilities, Golden Dome, and offer a 'Space Force One' for Pres. Trump

ReleaseUrsa Major awarded $32.9M contract to deliver 16 upgraded Hadley engines for Stratolaunch hypersonic test program

ReleaseVenus Aerospace completes historic U.S. hypersonic engine flight test

ReleaseUrsa Major's Hadley engine achieves sustained hypersonic speeds

ReleaseAFRL awards Ursa Major $28.6M contract for responsive space, hypersonic, and on-orbit propulsion

ReleaseSierra Space completes test campaign on next generation Vortex 35,000 lbf fuel-rich LOX LH2 engine

ReleaseAmerica's Frontier Fund backs breakthrough hypersonic engine company Venus Aerospace

ReleaseAerolloy Technologies wins development and supply order from Blue Origin for large superalloy investment castings for New Glenn's BE-4 engines

ReleaseVenus Aerospace achieves first ignition of VDR2 engine

ReleaseNew R&D center in Ohio to accelerate vital national security propulsion technology

ReleaseUK MoD HTCDF contract announcement July 2024

ReleaseISRO completes its RLV technology demonstrations through LEX trio

ReleaseRocket Lab completes Archimedes engine build, begins engine test campaign

ReleaseUrsa Major Hadley engine flies for the first time

ReleaseVenus Aerospace achieves the first long-duration engine test of their RDRE in partnership with DARPA.

ReleaseTexas-based Venus Aerospace is working with rotating-detonation propulsion technology to turn the "Stargazer" from sci-concept to Mach-9 business jet that flies at 6,900 mph

ReleaseVenus Aerospace partners with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on new engine technology

ReleaseVenus Aerospace adds Airbus Ventures to investor team

ReleaseAirbus Ventures invests in Venus Aerospace

ReleaseHypersonix to partner with launch provider Rocket Lab for initial hypersonic test vehicle launch

ReleaseDoD's National Security Innovation Capital awards $1.5M to New Frontier Aerospace to expand hypersonic engine development

ReleaseVelontra contracts with Venus Aerospace to deliver a propulsion system enabling airflights around the globe in one hour

ReleaseVORTEX upper stage engine achieves Critical Design milestone

ReleaseDelivering the future of UK Hypersonic capabilities

ReleaseHypersonix and Kratos sign agreement to develop and fly DART AE hypersonic drone

ReleaseReaction Engines test programme fully validates precooler at hypersonic heat conditions

ReleaseOzmens’ SNC test-fires next-gen rocket engine in prep for U.S. launches

ReleaseReaction Engines test programme successfully proves precooler capability at supersonic heat conditions

ReleaseESA completes further design validation of Reaction Engine's revolutionary air breathing SABRE rocket engine

ReleaseNew upper stage rocket engine a step closer to reality